would desire to read a true history of themselves. Independently of the few national events with which mine has been connected, it presents little to interest the general reader, nor do I know where to refer you for the necessary materials. All my private, as well as public, records have been destroyed or lost, except what is to be found in published documents, and I know of nothing available for the purpose. Should you, therefore, determine to undertake the work, you must rely upon yourself, as my time is so fully occupied that I am unable to promise you any assist

ance.

"The Reply Churlish"

SIR,

Very respectfully,

R. E. LEE

NEW-YORK, June 18, 1804

I send for your perusal a letter signed Charles D. Cooper, which, though apparently published some time ago, has but very recently come to my knowledge. Mr. Van Ness, who does me the favour to deliver this, will point out to you that clause of the letter to which I particularly request your attention.

You must perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgment or denial of the use of any expression which would warrant the assertions of Dr. Cooper.

I have the honour to be,

Your obedient serv't,

GENERAL HAMILTON

A. BURR

"The Reproof Valiant"

"The Reproof Valiant"

IR,

NEW-YORK, June 22, 1804

Your first letter, in a style too peremptory, made a demand, in my opinion, unprecedented and unwarrantable. My answer, pointing out the embarrassment, gave you an opportunity to take a less exceptionable course. You have not chosen to do it; but by your last letter received this day, containing expressions indecorous and improper, you have increased the difficulties to explanation intrinsically incident to the nature of your application.

If by a "definite reply," you mean the direct avowal or disavowal required in your first letter, I have no other answer to give, than that which has already been given. If you mean anything different, admitting of greater latitude, it is requisite you should explain.

MR.

PHILADELPHIA, 5 July, 1775

You are a member of Parliament, and one of that majority, which has doomed my country to destruction. You have begun to burn our towns, and murder our people. Look upon your hands, they are stained with the blood of your relations! You and I were long friends; you are now my enemy, and I am, yours

[BENJAMIN FRANKLIN]

"The Lie Circumstantial "

NASHVILLE, January 3d, 1806

Sir, I was last

ENERAL ANDREW JACKSON:

GE

evening informed by Mr. Dickinson that, when called

on by Captain Ervin and himself at Mr. Winn's tavern, on Saturday last, to say whether the notes offered by them, or either of them, at the time the forfeit was paid in the race between Truxton and Plow Boy, were the same received at the time of making the race, you acknowledged they were, and further asserted that whoever was the author of a report that you had stated them to be different, was a damned liar! The harshness of this expression has deeply wounded my feelings; it is language to which I am a stranger, which no man, acquainted with my character, would venture to apply to me, and which, should the information of Mr. Dickinson be correct, I shall be under the necessity of taking proper notice of. I shall be at Rutherford court before you will receive this, from whence I shall not return to Nashville before Thursday or Friday, at which time I shall expect an answer. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

THOMAS SWANN

"The Lie Direct"

THOMAS

HERMITAGE, January 7th, 1806

HOMAS SWANN, ESQ.:— Sir, late last evening was handed me, among my returns from Haysborough, a letter from you, of the 3d inst., stating information from Dickinson, etc., etc., etc. Was it not for the attention due to a stranger, taking into view its tenor and style, I should not notice its receipt. Had the information, stated to have been received from Mr. Dickinson, stated a

"The Lie Direct"

direct application of harsh language to you — had you not known that the statement, as stated in your letter, was not correct had it not taken place in the same house where you then were had not Mr. Dickinson been applied to by me to bring you forward when your name was mentioned, and he declined—had I not the next morning had a conversation with you on the same subject, and, lastly, did not your letter hold forth a threat of "proper notice,” I should give your letter a direct answer. Let me, sir, observe one thing: that I never wantonly sport with the feelings of innocence, nor am I ever awed into measures. If incautiously I inflict a wound, I always hasten to remove it; if offense is taken where none is offered or intended, it gives me no pain. If a tale is listened to many days after the discourse should have taken place, when all parties are under the same roof, I always leave the person to judge of the motives that induced the information, and leave them to draw their own conclusions, and act accordingly. There are certain traits that always accompany the gentleman and man of truth. The moment he hears harsh expressions applied to a friend, he will immediately communicate it, that explanation may take place; when the base poltroon and cowardly tale-bearer will always act in the background. You can apply the latter to Mr. Dickinson, and see which best fits him. I write it for his eye, and the latter I emphatically intend for him. But, sir, it is for you to judge for yourself; draw your own conclusions, and, when your judgment is matured, act accordingly. When the conversation dropt between Mr. Dickinson and myself, I thought it was at an end. As he wishes to blow the coal, I am ready to light it to a blaze, that it may be consumed at once, and finally extinguished. Mr. Dickinson has given you the information, the subject of your letter. In return, and in justice to him, I request you to show him this. I

set out this morning for South-West Point. I will return at a short day, and, at all times, be assured I hold myself answerable for any of my conduct, and should anything herein contained give Mr. Dickinson the spleen, I will furnish him with an anodine as soon as I return. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

ANDREW JACKSON

P.S. There were no notes delivered at the time of making the race, as stated in your letter; nor was the meeting between me and Mr. Dickinson at Mr. Winn's tavern on that subject. The subject of the notes was introduced by Mr. Dickinson as an apology for his conduct, the subject of conversation.

XII

"QUIPS AND CRANKS"

Three whimsical views of the future estate

WITH regard to future bliss, I cannot help imagining,

that multitudes of the zealously orthodox of different sects, who at the last day may flock together in hopes of seeing each other damned, will be disappointed, and obliged to rest content with their own salvation.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

I AM sure that one of the occupations of lost souls

doomed to eternal punishment must be the copying of Jonathan Edwards' sermons forever and forever in just such handwriting as I am now joyfully inflicting on you. What a delightful torture it must be to the hopelessly lost to continually transcribe in this choice chirography the